Rating: 
Summary: Well, just barely 4 stars..
Review: Ok, I just finished this book, like 10 mins ago, and these are a few thoughts. The beginning of the book is great. I loved it, their journey through the Great Tree Sagia was great. And, then, they emerged from the tree. At that point, I found that the story fell abit. While the plot is good, I found it hardly enthralling. Matter of fact, as I got closer to the end of the book, I just wanted it to end. Now, the characters are rather cool. Achmed and Grunthor are great, and while Rhapsody is fine, I am tired of every man gawking at her. Yeah yeah, supposely she is the most beautiful creature to walk the earth, but, who cares, and is their a point to her looks? I found that somewhat annoying. All in all, if your looking for a simple read, this is it. It doesnt compare to the likes of Tad Williams, or George R. R. Martin.
Rating:
Summary: Rhapsody - a beginning
Review: I found the book to be exciting and plodding in places. The story line takes off after a confusing beginning. There are sections of information being discovered by the characters that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story; then you get through 600+ pages and find out there is more to be told. This actually added to the story as it began to create a more interesting story. The seemingly unrelated pieces are now tied to the future stories and lend an aura of anticipation to the next volume. The bad news is the next volume is not out yet. I am awaiting the next installment to see where these characters will go.
Rating: 
Summary: A matter of taste
Review: I just finished reading Rhapsody. I loved it. I did not read it because of "hype," whatever that means, or because so many other people in my college reading group have loved it. I checked it out because Amazon sent me an email listing it as one of the 10 best of the year. I read it because it had an interesting cover and the premise sounded interesting. A flip test showed the writing to be clear, sophisticated and intriguing.It never ceases to amaze me to see when the random review shows up, with no details about plot or characters, eviscerating a book that seems to resonate with reviewers and readers. I can see that some readers might find this book too complicated for their taste, or the language too high level. It is not the typical stuff of Goodkind or Farland with third grade level words and single sentence paragraphs. Two of the characters [Achmed and Rhapsody] make subtle transformations while Grunthor remains constant, the comic relief. It may not move fast enough for those who are used to video game reaction speed. But an objective reviewer would have a hard time denying the scholarship and talent of this author, even if they didn't like the book. Ignore the anti-hype. Read the Amazon synopsis [or Publisher's Weekly or Booklist] and decide if it sounds interesting to you.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't believe the hype!
Review: I bought this book sight-unseen after reading glowing praise from many sources, including this website. Don't make the same mistake. This is purely amatuerish writing - worse, the author seems to thinks that more text equals a better book. While the characters and some of the concepts in the story are interesting, they are very poorly developed and sometimes the characters seem to change personality just to fit the authors current needs. The plot is downright terrible. I'm an avid fantasy reader and I'm willing to accept the fantastic, but some of the thing that the reader is asked to accept in this book are too much for me. I've been struggling with this book for a month now because I feel the need to finish books that I start, but I don't know if I can make it through the last 60 pages.
Rating:
Summary: Waxing Rhapsodic
Review: It's hard to think of something new to say about this book, an accolade that hasn't been said yet. I bought it because it came out on Amazon's Ten Best list and sounded interesting. What I didn't realize was that it was going to be an incredible fusion of myticism, fantasy and humor, horror and mystery, and action. Occasionally a comment comes out about how it isn't constant battle scenes. This is true, but when Haydon writes a battle scene, it is among the best in this genre. Others have sung the praises of the characters, another truth. I love this heroine; she is beautiful and oblivious, strong and vulnerable, wise and foolish, all at the same. Achmed the Snake has to be the best anti-hero I have ever read, and Grunthor is a totally unique character, and also one of the best. No matter what your taste, you will find something to like about this book. It really is a rhapsody, with some mood for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific
Review: This book has gotten so many good reviews that I hesitated to get it. I have been burned by books that many people are enthusiastic about. This time they are right, however. Rhapsody has great writing, a fascinating plot and wonderful characters. It's a terrific read, whether or not you are a fantasy reader.
Rating:
Summary: Strong, promising, first novel
Review: Compelling characters, new ideas, vivid writing. If you are looking for something new in any genre, AND want more of the same old good stuff you like, this one is for you. Actual rating, 4.8. One of the difficult tasks in fantasy, or any novel, is to create a world that works, that has a good balance of the dream and the real. Another difficulty is drawing multidimensional characters that are spontaneous and not senselessly chaotic. A third is pushing the language around so that a reader can involve all five senses, otherwise everything tastes like cardboard. Haydon has ably tackled all these challenges. WORLD: The world, while it includes magical qualities, is as limiting and frustrating as our own. CHARACTER:The characters are fresh and surprisingly real. In addition there is a heroine and multiracial discussion that avoids the cloying political correctness so common in the worst new books. ( a plug here for my favorite line of the novel 'The army will now feed.' Whoa!) LANGUAGE: Haydon doesn't tell the story, she shows it. This may be as sophisticated as modern fantasy has been in the last decade. It elevates the standard. I look forward to future books from this author.
Rating:
Summary: Five isn't enough stars
Review: Some books are great reads, others keep you up all night to finish them, and some transform your life. RHAPSODY did all three for me. There are so many things in this book that I have never seen in a fantasy before, and so much that reminds me of old time story tellers and legend lore. It made me feel so many emotions, not the least of which was a haunting sadness similar to the one felt at the end of the Lord of the Rings, when the war is over but the world is changed forever nonetheless. It is an amazing talent to be able to make readers feel this much.
Rating:
Summary: Should Make A Great Movie
Review: I read on Aint it Cool News tihs book might be made into a movie! I am really excited to hear this. I read this a while back and have reread it three times since. Each time it gets better and better. What I like best about it is that Elizabeth Haydon doesn't PRETEND to be Tolkien, like so many others. She writes with her own style, with her own language. She's not afraid to write sensuously, or humorously, she doesn't take everything so seriously like LOTR was religion on something. For those of you with open minds who like to read good literature, whether or not you're a fantasy reader, give this book a spin. For those of you who can only worship at the temple of Goodkind or whatever, or didn't like it, go away and let the rest of us enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful and Magical
Review: I bought this for my wife, a big Anne McCaffrey and George R R Martin fan, for Christmas. I heard it calling several times as I was wrapping it, so finally I gave in and peeked. Big mistake! Don't start this book unless you are willing to have your life sucked away for the time it takes you to read it. I ended up reading it on the train every night, then wrapping it and putting my own name on it. If she's nice to me I may lend it to her, but not until after I read it again. Beware this book! It casts a magic spell over you. It is also the funniest epic fantasy I've ever read. Unlike the juvenile humor in Piers Anthony, this is subtle and clever on a very impressive level.
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